Best Ways To Celebrate Earth Day 2013 In Pittsburgh

Earth Day in Pittsburgh celebrates everything a healthy environment gives us: clean air, sparkling rivers, hiking trails and amazing outdoor spaces in our city. Family-friendly festivals, special events and volunteer activities abound not just on April 22 but throughout the later weeks of April. Take part in some or all of these activities in our city this Earth Day.

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Pittsburgh REI Earth Day Volunteer Event
REI
412 S. 27th St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15203
(412) 488-9410
www.rei.com

Date: April 22 – 5 p.m.

Located in Pittsburgh's South Side, REI's huge retail store is often the site of activities that strengthen our community. This Earth Day, REI is teaming up with Allegheny Cleanways and The Friends of the Riverfront to sponsor a cleanup of the Monongahela River shoreline and the South Side segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail. Volunteers will receive a free tshirt as a token of appreciation. Visit REI Pittsburgh's events website for more details and to sign up.

Date: April 25 – 6 p.m.

Tree Pittsburgh is a nonprofit organization that has dedicated itself to protecting Pittsburgh's urban forest. A few days after Earth Day, join Tree Pittsburgh for one of its ongoing Tree Care volunteer events. The meet-up on April 25th will be in the Highland Park section of Pittsburgh and will focus on nurturing newly planted trees as well as mulching surrounding areas and learning how to care for urban trees. All equipment and safety gear will be provided to volunteers. All volunteers need to bring are clothes they don't mind getting dirty and dedication to the cause. Tree Pittsburgh's website will have more details about the exact place for volunteers to meet as the event draws nearer.

April 27 – 11 a.m.

Verona, a borough known for its great antique stores, feels like a small suburban town but is located just a few miles up the Allegheny River from Downtown Pittsburgh. Head to Verona Borough Park for Verona's Third Annual Earth Day Celebration. The event is free to attend and will focus on educating families about green technologies as well as getting the community involved in outdoor activities. Verona is also home to outdoor family movies in Verona Borough Park each summer and several boating clubs who always welcome new members.

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Date: See calendar for specific days and times.

The Great PA Cleanup is an event that happens each spring throughout the state as part of the Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful project. The nonprofit works tirelessly to protect and revitalize Pennsylvania's outdoor spaces. Each litter clean up event throughout the month of April will focus on restoring the natural beauty of the neighborhoods where the volunteers collect litter. Don't see an event in your neighborhood or know of a neighborhood that needs to be cleaned up? Use the website's registration tool to create an event of your own! All events in April will provide free work gloves, safety vests and equipment for all volunteers.

Date: April 19, 2013 all day and April 20, 2013 all day

The Pittsburgh Zoo will focus on children's education on Aril 19. Throughout the zoo, learning stations and interactive activities will be available to all students who attend the zoo. Just $8 gets students admission to the Zoo. The following day, other Earth Day themed events will take place during general admission hours to spotlight eco-frieldly crafts, recycling ideas and educational information from local organizations who will be sharing tips about ways to protect our environment.

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